**5. Conclusion**

Biogas technology represents one of a number of village-scale technologies that offer the technical possibility of more decentralised approaches to development. In addition, this technology offers a very attractive route to utilise certain categories of biomass such as agricultural organic waste or manure in rural areas for partially meeting energy needs (e.g. heating, electricity). This technology can therefore serve as a means to overcome energy

Anaerobic Biogas Generation for Rural Area Energy Provision in Africa 57

Ayalon, O., Avnimelech, Y., and Shechter, M. 2001 Solid waste treatment as a high-priority

Barber, W.P. and Stuckey, D.C. 1999 The use of anaerobic baffled reactor (ABR) for

Bensah E. C and Brew-Hammond, A .2008. Biogas effluent and food production in Ghana. 4th National Conference of Ghana Society of Agricultural Engineering. http://energycenter.knust.edu.gh/downloads/6/64.pdf [accessed 10 October

Bensah E. C and Brew-Hammond, A. 2010. Biogas technology dissemination in Ghana:

Björnsson, L., Mattiasson, B. and Henrysson, T. 1997 Effects of support material on the

Bouallagui, H., Cheikh, R.B., Marouuani, L. and Hamdi M. 2003. Mesophilic biogas

Brown, V. 2006. Biogas: a bright idea for Africa. *Environmental Health Perspectives,* 114:300-

Brummeler, E.T. 2000 Full scale experience with the BIOCEL process. *Water Science and*

Callaghan, F.J, Luecke K, Wase, D.A.J, Thayanithy K., Forster, C.F. 1997. Co-digestion of

Callaghan, F,J, Wase D,A,J, Thayanithy K, Forster C,F. 2002. Continuous co-digestion of

Chynoweth, D.P., Owens, J.M. and Legrand R. 2001 Renewable methane from anaerobic

Davidson, O. R. 1992. Energy issues in Sub-Saharan Africa: Future Directions. *Annual* 

Day, D.L., Chen, T.H., Anderson, J.C., Steinberg, M.P. 1990. Biogas plants for small farms in

Daily Nation 2010. Kenya: Dutch to inject Sh200 million into biogas project, 27 May. http://allafrica.com/stories/201005271360.html [accessed 28 September 2011].

http://www.ecn.nl/fileadmin/ecn/units/bs/JEPP/energyforthepoor.pdf

cattle slurry and waste milk under shock loading conditions. *Journal Chemical* 

cattle slurry with fruit and vegetable wastes and chicken manure. *Biomass* 

http://www.akut-umwelt.de/bin/news/AKUT-Project-cases-in-Kenya.pdf

semi-solid waste. *Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology*, 47, 640-644. Borja, R., Martin, A., Luque, M., and Alonso, V. 1994 Kinetics of methane production from

support medium. *Resources Conservation and Recycling*, 10, 317-327.

history, current status, future prospects, and policy significance. *International* 

pattern of volatile fatty acid accumulation at overload in anaerobic digestion of

wine distillery wastewater in an immobilized cell bioreactor using sepiolite as

production from fruit and vegetable waste in tubular digester. *Bioresource* 

wastewater treatment: A Review. *Water Research*, 33, 1559 -1578.

*Journal of Energy and Environment*, 1: 277-294.

27, 697-704.

2011].

303.

*Technology*, 86, 85-89.

*Technology*, 41, 299-304.

*Bioenergy*;27:71-77.

DFID 2002. Energy for the poor.

[accessed 29 September 2011].

[accessed 29 September 2011].

Kenya. *Biomass* 21:83-99.

*Reviews Energy Environment* 17:359-403.

Burkard T.2009. Project cases of biogas-plants in Kenya.

*Technology and Biotechnology,*68:405- 410.

digestion of biomass. *Renewable Energy*, 22, 1-8.

and low-cost alternative for greenhouse gas mitigation. *Environmental Management*,

poverty which poses a constant barrier to social and economic development in developing countries such as Africa.

Biogas initiatives in Africa is characterised by small to medium scale plants. Biogas technology is however, still beyond the reach of rural poor due to its high initial investment costs. There also exist a number of constraints affecting the implementation of the biogas technology on large scale such as: political, social-cultural, financial, informational, institutional, technical and training constraints. Priority issues which must be tackled by African countries for the development of biogas technology include: evaluation or reevaluation of the energy demand and supply patterns and their sectoral distributions at national level in order to estimate the contribution of biogas technology and other renewable energy make to the nation; assessment of the potential of new and renewable energy sources such as biogas so as to tailor their use to the actual needs, and to substitute them for conventional sources wherever appropriate; support of investigations, application, development, training and demonstration for the development of biogas technology.

Sub-Saharan Africa with its warm climates is well-suited for the biogas digester technology. However, it is very important to consider the practical gender needs, which fulfil the regular energy needs at household level while saving the time and labour of women, and the strategic gender needs, which provides the opportunities for women to be involved in social and economic activities for their self-enhancement and empowerment at the planning phase of biogas development.
